, 1887-12-29

1
ducing crops without rain or irrlga-
ton. A new factor in the growth of
the city appeared In May, Of this
year, the esta bllshment of ihs Spo.
kane REVIEW, by L. M. DAilam,
who had the winter before discern.
ed tho bright future Of the place,
and launclling out with 4 new plant,
has labored Increasingly TO the pres
ent, to push his confidence to a
brilliant issue. The Chronicle also
changed hands, passing into the
control Of Fl. 7. Cowiey, who had
been disabled tho previous year In
the Indian service by broken leg.
The Chronicle repeated the expert.
ment Of running daily, which had
been Issued two years before by the
Times, but tho short crop depressed
business, and the daily Chronicle
withdrew to await better times.
During the fall OF this year the
mineral discoveries In the Occur
dAlene moa antalns began to excite
attention, and IL. was soon discerned
that Spokane was soon to partici.
The existence Of placer gold had
others on what ~ now known rs
Pritchard creek, and nm attempt
made by the dlscoverer early In the
spring to lead a party from Montana
to to the locality OF the treasure,
proved failure owing to the depth
OF the snow, and the disappointed
prospectOrs came near hanging the
unhappy leader. Later In the sea.
son, however, II WAS thoroughly es-
taLlished d that the gold was there,
and before winter, the news spread.
The connection this year OF the
two ends OF the N. p. road from the
east and from the west In Montana,
which occasion WAS elaborateIy mag.
nified along the line, inspired new
vigor, contributed to draw mining
men and adventurers by the hum
dred to the rendezvous at Spokane
that winter, to be- ready for the first
dawn of spring TO open the way to
the now treasure fields.
The Spokane college, which had
in ihe winter III 49, and placed In
charge OF Prof. I. G. Libby, as presi.
dent, and had been conducting class.
es In the Method lst chapel, this year
erected substantial edifice on the
tract over the river donated by Col.
Jenkins, and the institution had an
auspicious stait In its new home. A
public school building
was a.sn constructed, and tho bsse.
meut OF tho Catholic college was
laid aud brick prepared for raising |
the walls this next season. The Post |
street bridge WAS built by private |
and movement start.
ed which resulted in the Organiza-
tion OF the Spokane Library associa-
tion. Notwithstanding the draw
backs, the year 'S3 was a seasOn OF |
great activity, and on the whole,
very satisfactory reselts for Spokane, |
revealing the enterprising & character.
istics Of her citizens, and showing |
the stability OF her resources as COM
pared with the epheimal pretenslons
of Cheney .whkh now began to show
The Cocur d Alene excitement
stimulated tho activities of the city
early In the new year OF 'S4, and In
January Of that year a board OF |
trade was organized to give shape
to the new enterprises which the |
situation seemed to demand. To |
facilitate the development OF the
mineral prospects, a transportation
company was formed consisting OF |
a stage and freight line to operate in
connection with steamers on Occur |
d. .Aiene lake, and movement was
also on foot to secure a railway, but !
later developm eRts revealed the |
prematurlty OF Fhese efforts. AS
early as June 10 dawned on the ex.
cited participatOrs that there had
been too great a "pan out" Of zeal
without knowledge. TIE impatient
crowd OF adventurers which had
thronged Spokane, Hathdrum, Mis-.
soula, Butte and the hundreds who
poured In from other mining camps
found themselves months In advance
of the proper season to ope rate IN
a mountainous region, and the camp |
being covered with heavy timber II |
opmet OF placers would te the work |
OF years. Discou RI cement and dis.
gust took carly possession of the
camp, the hopes ofspeedy fortunes
melted away with the mountain tor
rents, and there was an almost |
wholesale scattering OF "dead broke"
prosptct0rs. or course this was a
sore disappointment To the expect.
ant city, but there wis sufficient con.
fidence left that the mines would vet |
"turn out all right" and all the |
spare energy that could he mustered |
still shaped plans to utilize the min.
ing interest as one of SpOkane's most
hopeful resources. To verify the
conviction that profitable mineral
deposits existed within reach OF the
city, silver discoveries were made
during the season In the Colviile
valley which resulted in a consider.
able diversion from the Occur d.
Alene placers, and The townsites of
Cheweldh and Embry were laid out
In anticipation OF boom in that dI.
xoniIon I.afar aAllI lhn DanA IL